Receptacle



C. E. ROSS RECEPTACLE June 16, 1964 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed March 11, 1963 lifll INVENTOR. 3 CLAIRE E. Ross June 16, 1964 c. E. ROSS RECEPTACLE Filed March 11, 1963 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. CLH/RE E Poss WWW ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,137,010 I RECEPTACLE Claire E. Ross, 3-13 32nd St., Fair Lawn, NJ. Filed Mar. 11, 1963, Ser. No. 264,209 1 Claim. (Cl. 4-141) My invention relates to receptacles and more particuurine, fecal matter, vaginal drainage, and the like.

Another object of my invention is to provide a receptacle of the foregoing described character which is so constructed and arranged that, when it is positioned within the confines of the toilet bowl, the brim of the receptacle is disposed in contiguous relation with the inner portion of the flushing-rim of the bowl and in'immediate proximity subjacent to the top of the bowl to prevent contact of the specimens with any portion of the bowl and the introduction of water or other matter into the receptacle in the event of normal flushing of the bowl, thus precluding mixing or adulterating of the specimens with other media.

" A further object ofmy invention is to provide a receptacle of the foregoing described character equipped with means for maintaining the receptacle in specimenreceiving position within the bowl and which means also functions to facilitate insertion and removal of the receptacle into and out of the bowl.

A still further object of my invention is to provide a receptacle of the foregoing described character capable of being provided with a liner in the form of a container for receiving the specimens and which container may be readily removed from the receptacle and closed for temporary preservation and/ or transporting.

An important object of my invention is to provide a receptacle of the foregoing described character which may be constructed of economical material enabling it to be disposed of after a single use.

Another important object of my invention is to provide a receptacle of the foregoing described character capable of being easily sterilized for use in a sanitary manner.

A further important object of my invention is to provide a container of the foregoing described character which may be equipped with a filtering medium for separating various specimens one from the other.

A still further important object of my invention is to provide a receptacle of the foregoing described character having indicating means for measuring contents thereof and which is simple in construction, durable and efiicient in use, economical in manufacture and lends itself to utilization by other than trained personnel.

With the above and other objects in view, as will hereinafter appear, the invention consists in the combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter set forth and illustrated in the accompanying drawings from which the several features of the invention and the advantages attained thereby will be readily understood by those skilled in the art.

Referring to the drawings wherein like reference characters designate like parts throughout the several views: FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of my invention.

FIGURE 2 is a longitudinal sectional view illustrating my invention positioned within a toilet bowl.

FIGURE 3 is a top plan view of FIGURE 2.

FIGURE 4 is a sectional view taken on the line 4-4 of FIGURE 3.

3,137,010 Patented June 16, 1964 FIGURE 5 is a sectional view of my invention provided with a liner.

FIGURE 6 is a sectional view illustrating my invention equipped with a filter.

FIGURE 7 is a top plan view of a modification.

In practicing my invention, asillustrated in FIGURES 1 to 6 inclusive of the drawings, I provide a receptacle R comprising a dish-like body 4 having an ovate mouth or brim 5 and which is positioned within a toilet bowl 6. In the present instance, the bowl 6 is of the siphon type and equipped with the usual seat 7 and lid 8. The bowl is formed with an ovaliform flushing-rim 9 at its upper end and, below the rim 9, with a basin 10 for containing water serving as a trap. The contents of the trap are removed by siphonage through a relatively long outlet 11 by reason of water being introduced into the bowl through perforations or openings 12 in the rim 9 upon flushing as is usual in bowls of this type.

The body is formed with front, rear, side, and bottom portions or walls 14, 15, 16, and 17, respectively, with the rear wall 15 being fashioned with a pouring lip 18 at the brim 5. The front wall 14 is provided with an upwardly extending inverted U-shaped fastener or retainer 19 for disposal over the rim 9 to. maintain and secure the receptacle R in fixed relation with the bowl and in specimenreceiving position as illustrated in FIGURES 2 and 3 of the drawings- The front, rear, and side walls are curved and merge with each other and the bottom wall 17 with-. out seams, the bottom wall being relatively flat to permit seating of 'the receptacle on a support in a horizontal position when removed from the bowl.

The retainer 19 is fashioned with a handle 20 extending outwardly and downwardly relative thereto to facilitate positioning the receptacle within the bowl and removing it therefrom. The receptacle is of a one-piece construction fabricated from any one of various materials, for instance, steel, aluminum, or suitable plastic, with the brim 5 defining the upper ends of the front, rear, and side walls or portions. Inasmuch as the material may possess some inherent degree of resiliency the retainer 19 could, in the instance of a relatively wide rim, be pressed downwardly over the rim 9 and removed therefrom without appreciable difiiculty. A scale 23 is suitably applied to one of the side walls 16 for indicating the amount of liquid specimen contained in the receptacle.

As illustrated in FIGURE 5, the body 4 may be interiorly provided with a removable impervious liner 25 whereby specimens collected thereon are readily removed and wrapped in the liner for temporary preservation and/ or transportation. As depicted in FIGURE 6, the brim of the body 4 may have attached thereto a suitable concavoconvex filter 30 for retaining thereon certain specimens and permitting others to filter therethrough, depending upon the porosity or the mesh of the filter.

In the modification illustrated in FIGURE 7, the side -walls 16 of the body 4 are provided with supporting fingers 35 which extend upwardly and over the rim 9. These fingers 35 function to insure support of the receptacle in the specimen-receiving position in instances wherein the bowl is not of a shape or size permitting the retainer 19 to fully support the receptacle in the said position.

My invention is so constructed and arranged that the brim 5 is disposed a sufiicient distance above the lowermost portion of the rim 9 to preclude water, occasioned by flushing, and foreign matter from entering the receptacle from the bowl. Furthermore, as shown in FIG- URES 3 and 4, the shape and size of the body 4 is such that the brim 5 about the front and side walls 14 and 16 is disposed in contiguous relation withthe inner side face of the rim 9, and the bottom wall in spaced relation with the basin 10. By this construction, a body having .a

relatively large mouth 5 is provided thereby permitting liquid and/ or relatively solid specimens to be easily collected within the receptacle from an occupant of the seat 7.

From the foregoing it will be apparent that my invention provides practicalmeans for the collection of urine, stool and vaginal drainage as well as the simplification of measuring. liquid specimens especially the more frequent need for accurate measurement of urine output in certain diseases such as heart failure, hypertension, eclampsia, kidney stones, etc. even while patients are ambulatory. My invention serves to overcome certain psychological factors which prevent patient cooperation in obtaining specimens over awkward and unsanitary prior devices. The invention also supplies the need for frequent collection of "specimens from expectant mothers by way of a simple and comfortable method of such collection. Its portability enables it to be easily transported and used on toilet bowls in various locations.

Without further elaboration, the foregoing will so fully explain the invention that others may, by applying current knowledge, readily adapt the same for use under various conditions of service. Moreover, it is not indispensable that all the features of the invention be used conjointly since they may be employed advantageously in various combinations and subcombinations.

It is obvious that the invention is not confined solely. to the use herein disclosed in connection therewith as it may be utilized for any purpose to which it is adaptable. It is therefore to be understood that the invention is not limited. to the specific construction as illustrated and de scribed, as the same is only illustrative of the principles involved which are capable of extended application in various forms, and the invention comprehends all construction within the scope of the appended claim.

What is claimed is:

A specimen collecting receptacle for use Within the confines of a toilet bowl of a type provided with a trap in its bottom and an opening at its top defined by a substantially ovaliforrn flushing rim formed with an inner side face; said receptacle comprising a dish-like body having a bottom adapted to be disposed within the bowl above the trap and formed with an open top defined by an ovate brirn, said brim being formed with front and side outer margins and of a definite size for disposing said margins in contiguous relation with the inner face of the rim to substantially close the opening of the bowl between said margins and the inner face to preclude the passage of contaminants from the toilet bowl into the body, and fastening means carried by said body and extending upwardly from the brim and including a generally horizontally disposed portion spaced upwardly from the brim and a downwardly extending portion spacedoutwardly from the brim to maintain said body in a supported position within said bowl and below the rim thereof when said fastening means is connected to said rim.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Switzerland Sept. 1, 

